Hinged tie-end latch assembly for gang forms



H. G. GATES Sept. 26, 1967 HINGED TIE END LATCH ASSEMBLY FOR GANG FORMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1365 2 Ma Q 4 v w w i lb t6 L W M. if M S T, i t 1 o u 1 MW a Y r Q FIG.

FIG. 4.

INVENTOR. HARRlS GORDON GATES FIG. 3.

'ATTORNEYS v H. G. GATES Sept. 26, 1%?

HINGED TIE-END LATCH ASSEMBLY FOR GANG FOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1965 INVENTOR. HARRIS GORDON GATES FIG. 10.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,343,771 GED TlE-END LATCH ASSEMBLY FOR GANG FORMS Harris Gordon Gates, Englewood, (1010., assignor to Gates & Sons, Inc, Denver, (1010., a corporation of Colorado Filed Apr. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 445,471 4 Claims. (Cl. 248205) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to tie-end latch assemblies of the type forming the subject matter of my U.S. Patent No. 3,018,538 that have been modified to include a tie slot which opens onto an edge of the portion abutting the form panel in combination with a mounting bracket by means of which said assembly can be attached to a reinforcing timber for movement in the direction of the slot so as to uncover the projecting end of the form tie.

In my patent, above-identified, I disclose a pivotallymounted tie and latch having one or two arcuate fingers adapted upon actuation to either enter the loop in a loopended concrete form tie or straddle the upset end of a socalled button-type concrete form tie for purposes of pulling the form wall panel up snug against the stop carried by the tie. This pivotal element is carried by a bracket which includes provision for a horizontally-disposed reinforcing timber and also a detachable clamp member adapted to fasten a vertical reinforcing timber to the assembly.

In the average forming jobs, hundreds of these tie-end latch assemblies must be used, one on each end of every form tie. When the forms are stripped and these latch assemblies are detached from the tie ends, it is not at all uncommon to misplace a number of them, leave others where they are likely to become damaged, or generally handle the units in such a careless manner that some are unavailable for reuse.

Even those which can be reused must be transferred to a different location, separated one from another and fastened in place on the face of the forms. These oper ations are somewhat time consuming and, for this reason, increase the labor costs of the contractor.

While it is true that loss and breakage problems can be largely eliminated by careful handling of the latch assemblies, it is difficult to train the average forming crew to do so. The labor expense, on the other hand, could be reduced a great deal if the latch assemblies stayed with the form panels and were thus available for immediate reuse. Obviously, not all forming operations adapt themselves to the so-called gang-forming technique when the tie-end latches, form panels and reinforcing timbers are pre-fabricated as a unitary assembly that is reused over and over again; however, a number of applications do exist Where this technique could be employed if the latch assemblies were capable of being used in this fashion. For example, in large multi-storied poured concrete structures, all stories above the first are usually identical and are poured one or two at a time. It becomes possible, therefore, to pre-fabricate all the forms required for a given pouring operation and reuse them as the structure rises provided only the forming hardware was capable of being used in this manner. Permanent and semi'permanent forms even find application in ordinary residential construction where many footings and poured concrete foundations will be erected in accordance with a single basic plan. Many subdivisions include only two or three basically different floor plans and these adapt well to 3,343,77l Patented Sept. 26,

gang-forming techniques provided, of course, that the topography of the various sites is jointly uniform.

Unfortunately, however, few, if any, of the commercially-used tie-end latches can be rigidly fastened to the form wall panels and still function to releasably engage the tie in the manner intended. The reason for this is that the reinforcing timber bracket and the latch element carried thereby must be moved aside while the tie end is passed through the form wall panel, otherwise, the bracket will block the tie to such an extent it cannot be pulled through the tie slot. In other words, while the timber brackets contain apertures, notches or slots that will pass the tie into position for the latch elements to fasten thereon, most of these openings are only wide enough to receive the shank of the tie and not the head; accordingly, it becomes most difficult, if not impossible, to move the tie through the bracket and the latter must, therefore, be moved aside in some fashion.

Much greater problems arise in connection with stripping the forms from the wall after it has been poured and has set that require the timber-supporting bracket and associated tie-end latch to be mounted so they can be moved out of the way. After the ties are cast into the wall, they are rigid and it becomes a practical impossibility to pull the panel free of all of them simultaneously if they are still held in the timber-support brackets even assuming the head of the tie can pass therethrough which, as forementioned, is seldom the case.

Therefore, many reasons exist for mounting the tie-end latch assembly on the form panel or reinforcing timber in a manner that will allow it to be moved out of the way, yet, remain permanently attached thereto. Regardless of how this is accomplished, the mounting must be one that does not interfere with the normal functions the latch assembly is intended to perform. The relatively few tie end latching units in commercial use at the present time differ from one another in the way they gras the end of the tie and, for this reason, not all of them are adaptable to the same type of gang-form mount although two popular styles do work well with identical gang-form-mounting hardware, the latter forming the subject matter of my copending application Serial No. 445,507.

The instant application, on the other hand, is specifically directed to the gang-form mount designed for use with a slightly modified form of my combined tie-lock and reinforcing timber clamp that forms the subject matter of my US. Patent 3,018,538 previously mentioned. In that patent, I disclosed a generally Z-shaped reinforcing timber bracket having a downturned flange adapted to nest againstthe exposed face of the form wall panel underneath the tie slot, a horizontal position projecting outwardly in perpendicular relation from the top edge of the downturned flange providing support for the underside of a reinforcing timber, and an upturned flange at the outer extremity of the horizontal portion cooperating therewith and with the panel to define an upwardly-opening channel capable of holding the reinforcing timber up against said panel when the tie latch is releasably locked onto the form tie. The downturned flange includes a slot designed to pass the tie and, in the case of a loop-ended tie, orient same in position for the arcuate finger of the latch element to pass therethrough.

The latch member is pivotally attached to the horizontal position of the timber bracket and includes a bandle operatively associated with the arcuate single or double finger adapted to swing same into locked engagement with the projecting tie end. When used with loopended ties, the single-finger latch passes through the loop; whereas, when used with button-type ties, the double fingered version brackets the shank behind the head.

Now, it has been found in accordance with the teaching of the instant invention that the above-described combination tie-end latch and reinforcing timber clamp can be adapted for use on gang forms by more or less permanently attaching same to the horizontal reinforcing timber thereof by means of a novel hinge bracket and by extending the slot in the vertical portion that rests against the form panel so as to emerge onto an edge thereof thus permitting said latch assembly to be moved aside or otherwise swing away from the tie-end projecting therethroug-h. The gang form, of course, is prefabricated to include the tie slots and the reinforcing timbers, the latter being permanently nailed to the form panels. The hinge-bracket is attached to the reinforcing timber in position such that the tie-end latch assembly carried thereby can be swung into position registering with a tie slot. When so used, the reinforcing timber bracket is not needed to fasten the timber to the panel, this being accomplished with the nails; however, the clamp still holds the timber in reinforcing relation to the panel because without it the pressure exerted by the wet concrete could easily spring it loose. Due to the fact that the timbers are attached didectly to the form panels, the tie-end latch assemblies can be positioned either on the top or bottom thereof. When positioned on top, the latch assemblies swing out and down completely out of the way of the projecting tie end giving better access thereto. Also, this is especially handy when working along the bottom edge of the form as the tie slots and tie ends lie above the reinforcing timbers and thus become much easier to lock on to than if located underneath. Up high on the forms, it may be desirable to locate the brackets, ties and tie slots underneath the timbers as shown in my previously-mentioned patent for better accessability.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved tie-end latch assembly specifically designed for use with gang forms.

A second objective is to provide a device of the character above-described that provides ready access to the projecting end of the form tie.

Another object of the invention herein disclosed is the provision of a hinge bracket for combination tie-end latches and reinforcing timber clamps that does not interfere in any way with normal use of the latter.

Still another objective is the provision of a hinge bracket that can be used with both the single and doublefingered versions of my patented tie end latch.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an accessory mounting bracket for tie end latches that requires only minor modification of the latter and can be detached therefrom enabling same to be used in the manner shown in my previous patent.

Further objectives are to provide a tie-latch mounting hinge that is simple, inexpensive, rugged, lightweight, versatile, compact and easy to install.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out specifically hereinafter in connection with the description of the drawings that follows, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front fragmentary elevation showing a gang-form panel with a horizontal reinforcing timber nailed thereto and two of the tie end latch assemblies fastened to the timber;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section showing one of the latch assemblies releasably locked to one end of a form tie and a second identical latch swung away from the opposite tie end;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary front elevation similar to FIGURE 1 but to an enlarged scale showing the tie-end latch assembly fastened to the reinforcing timber and locked into the tie loop;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section taken along line 55 of FIGURE 4, portions of the tie end loop having been broken away to better reveal the construction;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a section taken along line 8-8 of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 9 is a section taken along line 99 of FIG URE 8; and,

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the hinge bracket alone, portions thereof having been broken away and shown in section.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the present invention and, initially, to FIGURES l and 2 thereof, reference numeral 10 designates a concrete form wall panel having a horizontally-disposed reinforcing Waler 12 nailed thereto in position spaced slightly beneath the tie slots 14. The walers 12 are customarily wooden 2 x 4s nailed on edge as shown. No attempt has been made to show the entire form wall which will include many reinforcing timbers, both vertical and horizontal, as these units are conventional and form no part of the instant invention beyond the features thereof which have been illustrated.

A plurality of form ties 16 bridge the space left between the form walls which is to be filled with concrete. Each tie passes through the transversely-aligned tie slots 14 in the panels 10 and is provided with means 18 on opposite extremities thereof adapted to releasably connect to the latch element 20 of the combination tie-end latch and reinforcing timber clamp assembly that has been broadly designated by reference numeral 22. In the particular form shown, the means 18 on the end of the ties 16 comprises a pre-formed loop and the latch member 20 is, therefore, of the single-finger type having only one arcuate finger 24 adapted to pass through the tie-end loop. As disclosed in my earlier patent previously identified, the tie may also be of the so-called button-type having an upset head in which event the double-fingered version of the latch element 2% would be employed that has been shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 of said patent. Irrespective of which of the above-described tie-latch combinations that is used, the assembly functions in exactly the same way insofar as the releasable connection made with the tie-end is concerned.

In FIGURES 2-6, inclusive, it will be seen that the latch element 20 is pivotally mounted on pin 26 for arcuate movement about the center defined by the finger 24. The latch element 20 also includes an upwardly offset handle 28 projecting radially from the pin for use in actuating the finger between locked and released positions. Pin 26 extends between the horizontal base plate 30 of the bracket and a tongue 32 that projects from the vertical form-engaging flange 34 thereof. The tongue and base plate lie in spaced parallel relation to one another and the hub 36 of the latch member mounts in the space therebetween,

The end of the base 30 that adjoins the form panel and the vertical flange 34 have a common slot 38 therein that accepts the projecting end of the form tie as shown most clearly in FIGURES 4 and 5. Slot 38 is different from the slot 52 of my patented tie-end latch in that slot 38 extends all the way through to the edge of vertical portion 34 as shown most clearly in FIGURE 8 thus making it possible to move bracket 22 oif the projecting end 18 of the tie in other directions than axially thereof. The size and shape of the tie slot 14 is such as to pass both the tie end 14 and also the plug 40 mounted on the shank of the tie. Ties with so-called form-wall stops that engage the inside of the form wall panels and maintain same in a minimum fixed spaced relation to one another are diflicult, if not impossible, to use in gangforming because the space between the form walls is interlaced with reinforcing rods and the like that make it necessary to pass the form ties through the panels from the outside. In other words, the conventional form-erecting method where the ties are fastened to one panel from the inside and then passed through the second wall from the inside as it is being erected cannot be used in gangforrning. The absence of stops on the ties to engage the form wall panels makes the loop-ended ties shown herein highly desirable because the finger cooperates upon entering the loops to maintain a fixed-spaced relation between the form wall panels even without stops.

The outboard vertical flange 42 of the bracket extends in the opposite direction from the base and engages the exposed edge of the 2 x 4 waler to hold same tight against the form wall panel. Ordinarily, this entire bracket assembly is releasably fastened to the form panel and waler by the connection between the latch and tie, however, in gang-forming, it is desirable to more or less permanently attach this tieend latch assembly to the waler and, in turn, nail the waler to the form wall. In order to do so, it is necessary that the latch assembly be mounted so that it can be moved out of the way of the tie slot, thus permitting insertion of the latter. It is such a mounting that forms the subject matter hereof.

Next, with particular reference to FIGURES 2-7, inelusive, and 10, it will be seen that the mounting comprises a hinge assembly that has been broadly designated by reference numeral 44 and which includes a fixed element 46 having a generally channel-shaped cross section adapted to slip over the exposed edge of the waler preparatory to being fastened thereto with nails 48. In the particular form shown, nails are provided in all three of the channel-forming surfaces, namely, the web 50 and upper and lower flanges 52 and 54, respectively, these elements being clearly revealed in FIGURE 10. Note also that nail-receiving apertures 56 are provided in the web and flanges adjacent the side edges thereof to receive the nails. Double-headed nails have been illustrated as fasteners because they enable the entire hinged latch assembly to be moved from the form quite readily; although, of course, ordinary single-headed nails, screws or other types of fasteners would suffice to mount the hinge on the waler.

The web 50 of the fixed hinge element 46 is cut away in the central portion thereof to provide an opening 58 sized to receive the outer flange 42 of the waler bracket and allow the latter to bear directly against the edge of said waler in reinforcing relation thereto. While it certainly would be possible to dispense with such an opening and lengthen the base 30 of the bracket by the thickness of web 50, this would limit the versatility of the waler bracket as it could not be used separated from the hinge without having a gap between flange 42 and the adjacent waler face.

The corner of the fixed hinge element defined between flange 54 and web 50 includes a pair of laterally spaced and integrally-formed bendable tabs 60 adapted to be curled around a hinge pin 62 that bridges the centrallylocated gap therebetween. If desired, these tabs can be pre-forrned to accommodate the pin such as by extrusion so that said pin can be inserted from one end. When this is done, the tabs are preferably crimped against the pin to hold same in place.

The upper flange 52 of the fixed hinge element rests directly on top of the waler and the base of the waler bracket overlies said flange as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The waler is preferably dropped down a fraction of an inch lower on the panel to accommodate the slightly elevated position of the waler bracket and still have the latch element properly aligned with the tie slot.

The movable hinge element 64 is generally L-shaped with its lower terminal edge 66 curled as shown in FIG- URES 5, 6 and to wrap around the portion of hinge pin 62 left exposed between the fixed hinge leaf tabs 60. In the particular form illustrated, flange 42 of the waler bracket includes an inverted U-shaped notch 68 (FIG- URES 3 and 7) that leaves a portion of the 2 x 4 edge exposed. The vertical leg 70 of the movable hingle leaf has the portion 72 thereof that lies within the waler bracket notch coplanar with the web 50 of the fixed hinge leaf and an adjoining portion 74 offset outwardly to pass outside of the waler bracket as shown most clearly in FIGURES 5 and 6.

The horizontal leg 76 of the movable leaf 64 extends along the top of the waler bracket base and across an opening 78 provided therein spaced outwardly of tie-end slot 38. In the area where the horizontal leg overlies the opening 78, said leg is provided with a downwardly offset tab 80 that produces a rearwardly-facing shoulder 82 (FIGURES 4 and 6) which locks in behind a forwardlyfacing shoulder 84 of a similar depressed tab 86 formed in the upwardly-offset central section 88 of fastening bracket 90. This bracke extends across the top of the horizontal leg 76 of the movable leaf and has end portions 72 that pass down through the waler bracket opening 78 and then laterally underneath said bracket as shown in FIGURE 7. The abutting shoulders 82 and 84 of the depressed tabs 80 and 86 cooperate to fasten the movable hinge leaf to the waler bracket.

Finally in FIGURE 2 it will be seen that the abovedescribed hinge member hingedly mounts the combined tie lock and reinforcing timber clamp to the waler in position such that it can be swung away from the tie slot so that the tie can be passed therethrough. Then, by merely swinging the latch assembly up and over toward the form wall into operative position, the latch member is aligned with the projecting tie end whereupon the finger can releasably lock therein.

Having thus described the several useful and novel features of the improved tie-end latching and form wall reinforcing assembly of the present invention, it will be apparent that the several worthwhile objectives for which it was developed have been achieved. Although but a single specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated herein, I realize that certain changes and modifications therein may well occur to those skilled in the art within the broad teaching hereof; hence, it is my intention that the scope of protection afforded hereby shall be limited only insofar as said limitations are expressly set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination: bracket means for holding a timber tight against an outer exposed surface of a concrete pouring form wall in reinforcing relation thereto, said bracket means including a form-wall engaging portion having a slot therein opening on one edge adapted to receive the shank of a concrete form tie at the point where a projecting end thereof emerges from an opening in the form wall, a horizontal portion depending from the form-wall engaging portion adapted to rest against a corresponding horizontal surface of the reinforcing timber, and an abutment-forming portion depending from the horizontal portion in spaced substantially parallel relation to the form-wall engaging portion, said abutment-forming portion being positioned to rest against the edge of the reinforcing timber opposite that which lies against the form wall and hold same snugly thereagainst; latch means carried by the bracket means for movement between a released position and a locked position fastened to the projecting form tie end when the latter lies within the slot in the form-wall engaging portion; and, bracketmounting means connected to the bracket means for fastening the latter to the timber for movement relative thereto in the direction of the open end of the slot so as to disengage same from a tie-end projecting therethrough.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which: the slot in the form-wall engaging portion of the bracket means extends vertically; and, the bracket-mounting means comprises a hinge fastening the bracket means to the reinforcing timber for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis paralleling the form wall in spaced relation outwardly thereof.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 in which: the hinge includes a fixed leaf, a movable leaf and a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting said fixed and movable leg fastened to the platform-forming portion of the bracket 1 0 means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Jenkins 25131 Fazakesley 248-300 De Canio 249--219 Gates 249219 Muellei 249-219 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

R. D. BALDWIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION: BRACKET MEANS FOR HOLDING A TIMBER TIGHT AGAINST AN OUTER EXPOSED SURFACE OF A CONCRETE POURING FORM WALL IN REINFORCING RELATION THERETO, SAID BRACKET MEANS INCLUDING A FORM-WALL ENGAGING PORTION HAVING A SLOT THEREIN OPENING ON ONE EDGE ADAPTED TO RECIEVE THE SHANK OF A CONCRETE FORM TIE AT THE POINT WHERE A PROJECTING END THEREOF EMERGES FROM AN OPENING IN THE FORM WALL, A HORIZONTAL PORTION DEPENDING FROM THE FORM-WALL ENGAGING PORTION ADAPTED TO REST AGAINST A CORRESPONDING HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE REINFORCING TIMBER, AND AN ABUTMENT-FORMING PORTION DEPENDING FROM THE HORIZONTAL PORTION IN SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION TO THE FORM-WALL ENGAGING PORTION, SAID ABUTMENT-FORMING PORTION BEING POSITIONED TO REST AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE REINFORCING TIMBER OPPOSITE THAT WHICH LIES AGAINST THE FORM WALL AND HOLD SAME SNUGLY THEREAGAINST; LATCH MEANS CARRIED BY THE BRACKET MEANS FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A RELEASED POSITION AND A LOCKED POSITION FASTENED TO THE PROJECTING FORM TIE END WHEN THE LATTER LIES WITHIN THE SLOT IN THE FORM-WALL ENGAGING PORTION; AND, BRACKETMOUNTING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE BRACKET MEANS FOR FASTENING THE LATTER TO THE TIMBER FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO IN THE DIRECTION OF THE OPEN END OF THE SLOT SO AS TO DISENGAGE SAME FROM A TIE-END PROJECTING THERETHROUGH. 